Pharmaceutical regulators in the US last week authorized Pfizer’s covid-19 vaccine and are now about to give their approval to Moderna’s. Both have a similar structure, but also some differences.
COLD STORAGE
The main difference between the two vaccines is their cold storage. While Pfizer’s needs temperatures of between -60 and -80 degrees Celsius, which has forced it to organize an expensive and complex distribution and storage system, Moderna’s only requires -20 degrees, like a home freezer.
Outside of the super-freezers needed by the Pfizer vaccine, the serum lasts 5 days in a refrigerator, while the Moderna vaccine lasts up to 30 days, making it much more manageable logistically, especially for developing countries.
DOSAGE
Both vaccines require two doses, but those of Moderna are 100 micrograms and must be administered 28 days apart, while those of Pfizer are 30 micrograms, to be administered within 21 days.
EFFECTIVENESS
Both vaccines have shown an efficiency close to 95%, much higher than expected, but that of Moderna has shown ability to prevent serious cases of covid-19, according to data published by US regulators.
STRUCTURE
Both vaccines use messenger RNA or mRNA, which is introduced into human cells for the body to produce viral proteins that serve to generate the antibodies it needs to defend itself.
However, each vaccine uses its own type of lipid coating to protect messenger RNA.
AGE
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the U.S. regulatory body, has authorized the Pfizer vaccine for people over 16; the Modern one, however, is prepared for over 18s.
COMPANY
While Pfizer is one of the largest pharmaceutical companies with 170 years of history, Moderna is a biotechnology company just a decade since its foundation and without any products on the market.
Modern, until recently an emerging company, had never before submitted a vaccine to the FDA.
PUBLIC SUPPORT
Modern has been actively involved in Operation Trump Trump’s Government Warp Speed and has raised $ 2.5 billion in federal funds to buy new materials, expand its facilities and increase its workforce by 50%.
Pfizer, on the other hand, has not been part of this public operation although it did sign a contract with the Government for the purchase of 100 million doses.